Polymer energy chain manufacturer, igus, has introduced a new lighter weight e-chain for cable management/protection applications with large unsupported lengths and high fill weights that was previously the domain of larger, more expensive energy chains.
The manufacturer’s “L” Lean variant has been specially designed for users for who its industry standard E4Q is too large. From the seventh robot axis in linear robot applications to machine tools, the igus E4Q-series energy chain has established itself in recent years in demanding applications with large unsupported lengths and high fill weights.
E4Q
The problem is that, in applications with medium loads (machine tools, woodworking, car washes etc.), the E4Q is oversized. One of the benefits is you have a larger inner fill area with the same outer specifications as the E4Q equivalent e-chain.
“To offer users the advantages of the E4Q in these applications as well and at a lower price, we developed the L version – the E4Q.64L,” says igus South Africa managing director, Ian Hewat. “Depending on the width, the low-cost version of the energy chain costs between 15% and 20% less than the E4Q.”